Northern Territory of Australia values ​​cooperation with localities of Vietnam

During the visit, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam and Consul General Nguyen Thanh Ha greeted Governor Hugh Heggie; met and worked with Premier Lia Finocchiaro, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Robyn Lambley, Leader of the Opposition Selena Uibo, Mayor of Darwin Kon Vatskalis, Director of the Northern Australia Office of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Suzy Wilson-Uilelea; attended the Darwin Fusion 2025 Conference and networking activities with the trade promotion delegation of Khanh Hoa province led by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Thieu and the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City; attended a roundtable discussion with leaders of Northern Australian ministries such as the Ministry of Trade-Enterprise and Asian Relations, Tourism-Hotel Services, Mines and Energy, Agriculture-Fisheries; met with representatives of the Vietnamese community and businesses in Northern Australia.

At the meetings, the leaders of the Northern Australian government at all levels highly appreciated and attached importance to cooperation with Vietnamese localities; emphasized that Northern Australia wishes to deepen relations with Vietnamese provinces and cities that are sister cities to Northern Australia such as Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa province, Ba Ria-Vung Tau; considering this as a fulcrum to continue to promote stronger cooperation with other provinces and cities of Vietnam in the coming time.

Governor Hugh Heggie appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese community in Northern Australia, especially in the fields of agriculture and services; emphasized the need to further promote tourism and education cooperation between Northern Australia and Vietnam; and highly appreciated the great development potential of Khanh Hoa province after hearing the introduction of Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Thieu.

Premier Lia Finocchiaro agreed with the Ambassador’s assessment that there is still a lot of potential for cooperation between Northern Australia and Vietnamese localities; expressed support for Ambassador Pham Hung Tam’s proposal to promote cooperation in areas such as solar energy development, mining, tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, research on establishing a direct flight route from Vietnam to the North of the Northern Territory of Australia, infrastructure development, including housing development projects, tourism infrastructure and hotel services that Vietnam’s VinGroup Corporation is looking to implement in the Shoal Bay area in the North of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Premier Lia Finocchiaro said she would propose that the Federal Government have specific regulations on immigration policy, tax policy… for Northern Australia to attract foreign investment, attract tourism, promote educational cooperation… in the coming time. The Premier also appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese community to socio-economic development and creating cultural diversity in the Northern Territory of Australia.

At the Roundtable Workshop on Exploiting the Cooperation Potential between Northern Australia and Vietnamese Localities, representatives of Northern Australia ministries, sectors and the delegation of the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Perth discussed and clarified the common potentials that Northern Australia and Vietnamese localities can enhance cooperation; frankly pointed out the difficulties and obstacles in issues such as establishing direct flights, promoting cooperation in energy, tourism, education, investment, infrastructure development; and proposed specific solutions to enhance cooperation between Northern Australia and Vietnamese localities in the coming time.

Speaking at the Darwin Fusion 2025 Conference, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam highlighted the potential and strengths of Ho Chi Minh City; assessed the advantages and challenges in promoting cooperation between the two sister units, Ho Chi Minh City and Darwin; and pointed out the prospects for cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Darwin in the coming time.

At meetings with representatives of the community and Vietnamese businesses in Northern Australia, including Mr. Nguyen Ngoc My, President of the Northern Australia-Vietnam Business Association, Ambassador Pham Hung Tam reiterated the positive comments of the Premier of Northern Australia on the contributions of the Vietnamese community to the socio-economic development of Northern Australia, encouraging people and businesses to continue to strongly promote the achievements in the coming time.